Bootless inline skate

Abstract

A skate with inline wheels is disclosed that employs a lever (termed a mast) to provide the upright support and lateral control usually supplied by a stiff boot or shell. The lever doesn't trap heat and perspiration as will the boot or shell, particularly since these must be lined with heavy padding to provide a modicum of comfort. Moreover, unlike the skate boot, the mast may be folded back along the frame of the skate when not in use to enhance portability and minimize the need for storage space. Additionally, the various embodiments of the invention are easier to put on and take off than traditional designs. These features gain additional utility when considered in combination, which have the collective efficacy to usher the inline design into entirely new applications. The inventor considers that the impressive speed of inline skates generally, combined with the features disclosed herein, may someday cast this erstwhile toy and sports accessory into a new role as a practical transport machine.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . An inline-wheeled skate comprising: a skate frame, a legband, and a folding lever attached to said skate frame, said lever, hereafter termed the mast, being configured for strapping to a leg by said legband so as to provide the strong lateral support required by inline-wheel design.  
     
     
         2 . The skate of  claim 1  wherein said mast comprises a spring steel rod, preferably of the stainless type.  
     
     
         3 . The skate of  claim 1  wherin said mast is hinged in such a manner that, while providing stiff lateral control of said frame, said mast is free to move in a plane longitudinal to the direction of motion for comfort and control.  
     
     
         4 . The skate of  claim 3  wherein said pivotability allows said mast to be readily folded along the frame, thereby dramatically reducing the bulk of the skate in storage as compared to a conventional skate with a boot or shell.  
     
     
         5 . The skate of  claim 3 , further comprising a sliding loop over said mast, said loop being part of a cable linked, in turn, to a footband and configured for providing automatic tightening of said footband.  
     
     
         6 . The inline skate of  claim 1  further comprising a means for providing adequate control of an inherently unstable single-plane wheel arrangement by attaching the skate at just three strategic points: 
 (a) Heel of shoe,  
 (b) Front portion of shoe; and  
 (c) To a leg well above an ankle.  
 
     
     
         7 . The skate of  claim 6 , further comprising an adjustable sidestop which provides one of said control means by constraining the heel portion of the skater's shoe when skating.  
     
     
         8 . The inline skate of  claim 6  wherein the mast of  claim 1 , in combination with the sidestop of  claim 7 , is instrumental in attaching heel of shoe to frame.  
     
     
         9 . The inline skate of  claim 6 , further comprising a footband which provides a means of attaching a front portion of a shoe to the skate.  
     
     
         10 . The skate of  claim 9 , wherein said footband further comprises a solestop which is easily adjusted to shoe width when said footband is slack, guides the skater toward placing shoe in a consistently centered position over frame, and locks firmly into place when said footband is tightened, thereby keeping shoe from slipping sideways despite the rigors of skating.  
     
     
         11 . The skate of  claim 1  wherin said legband is a multi-padded legband configured for binding said folding lever, the mast, to a user's leg, wherefore covering less skin surface than the cuff and lined shell of conventional design and thereby reducing heat buildup.  
     
     
         12 . The skate of  claim 11 , wherein said legband is equipped with an overcenter-latched buckle whereby an integral lever can be rotated 180 degrees about its pivot to cinch up a strap to provide the pullup useful for quick and convenient latching of the legband and/or other bands.  
     
     
         13 . The skate of  claim 1 , further comprising an adjustable backstop which can be repositioned on aforesaid skate frame to accommodate different ranges of shoe lengths.